CALCUTTA (Hind. Kali Ghati, the ghat, or landing-place leading to the temple of the goddess Kali). The capital of the Province of Bengal and metropolis of British India, situ ated on the left bank of the river Hugli, au arm of the Ganges, in latitude 22° 35' N., and longi tude 88° 27' E., about 100 miles from the sea by the river (Map: India, E 4). Calcutta is the headquarters of the Governor-General of India, and the seat of the Indian Government, also of the supreme courts of justice, of the court of appeals. and of a United States consulate. The appearance of the city, as it is approached by the river, is very striking. On the left are the Botanical Gardens and the Bishop's College, a handsome Gothic edifice, erected by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts: on the right is the suburb of Garden Reach, with its handsome country seats and beautiful gardens; farther on are the Govern ment dockyards and the arsenal; beyond these are the Maidan Esplanade, the favorite place of resort of the Mite of Calcutta for their evening drive, the Eden Gardens, with their beautiful tropical trees and plants. and the splendid zoological gardens.
Here, near the river, lies Fort William, the largest fortress in India, occupying. with the out works, an area of about half a mile in diameter. It is garrisoned by European and native soldiers, mounts 619 guns, and its armory contains 80, 00o stands of small arms. Facing the esplanade, among other fine buildings. is the Government House. a magnificent palace erected by the Mar quis of Wellesley. Beyond this, extending north ward along the river-bank, is the Strand, two miles in length, and forty feet above low water, with various ghats, docks, and landing-stages for ocean liners. It is adorned with many tine buildings, including the custom-house. the new Mint, and other Government offices; and the ap pearance given by these and other edifices has gained for Calcutta the appellation of 'City of Palaces.' Among its other places of interest men tion may be made of the principal court of justice. the town hall. a fine building, the Ben gal and United Service Clubs, Writers' Build ing. Bank of Bengal. Jesuits' College, medical
college. university, the Indian and the Economic museums, theatres, the Y. M. C. A. Building, be sides various churches, mosques. Hindu temples, and pagodas, and numerous bazars. There are a number of monuments throughout the city, the most notable being those erected to the Marquis of Wellesley and Sir David Ochterlony. While the European quarter of the town is distin guished for its fine public buildings and commo dious dwelling-houses, the quarters occupied by the natives present a very different appearance. their houses being, in most instances. built of mud, or bamboo and mats, and the streets nar row and unpaved. The cyclone of November. 1867, and that of June, 1870, while very destruc tive—in the first instance destroying 30.000 na tive houses—made room for considerable im provement. New and wider streets have been opened through crowded quarters and brick houses are replacing the huts.
In 1852 Calcutta was erected into a municipal ity, the proprietors paying assessments, and electing commissioners to apply the proceeds of these assessments in cleansing, improving, and embellishing the town. The water-supply of Cal cutta is good. FormetY the water was kept in large tanks, interspersed throughout the city, whence it was borne by water-carriers or Wis hes in large leather bag,. Since the year 1865.
however, excellent water has been obtained from the Hugli. about 15 miles above Calcutta. where it is filtered and sent down by pipes in the usual way. The works were further improved after 1888, and now yield a daily supply of 20.000,000 gallons. The result of this and of a system of underground drainage with an outlet in the Salt Lake has been a marked improvement in the health of the city. although more is to be de sired in this direction, one•fourth of the wards remaining unsewered. A few progressive wards dispose of garbage by modern incinerators. Gas and electric lighting have taken the place of the oil lamps formerly in general use, and there are many miles of street-ear lines. .\ canal girds a part of the city beyond the circular road.